Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Lephoto Nabi: A True Legend in Technology and Humanity



🕊️ Introduction

On 4 August 2025, Lesotho lost one of its brightest lights — Mr. Lephoto Nabi (Nabi Raphael Lephoto). A pioneer in technology, a devoted educator, an entrepreneur, and above all, a human being whose presence uplifted everyone he encountered. Not leaving out the love he had for his Basotho Nation in general, attested by the community projects he embarked on. 

For me, this loss is profoundly personal. He was not only my lecturer but also a mentor, a guide, to many other Basotho Youth - an inspiration who shaped my academic path, industrial outlook, social values, and entrepreneurial vision. 

This blog is my humble attempt to celebrate his life, legacy, and the immeasurable impact he had on me and countless others.

🎓 Academic Excellence: Cisco Certified Lecturer

I had the privilege of sitting under his guidance as my lecturer for Ethical Hacking under the Cisco program at Lerotholi Polytechnic, where he served as Head of the IT Department.

  • His teaching was never just about technical mastery — it was about ethics, innovation, and responsibility.
  • His lectures were engaging, full of positivity and motion, instilling in us the courage to think differently.
  • Beyond the classroom, our conversations often drifted to innovation, ethics, and personal growth — values he lived by.
  • He advocated for strict complaince of Cybersecurity measures and encouraged us to participate in global Cybersecurity hackathons to hone our skills. 

He wasn’t just teaching cyber security ; he was teaching us to build, protect, and innovate responsibly.

Furthermore, Mr Lephoto had years of experience in the field of Information Technology, especially Networks Configurations and Maintenance, courtesy of the outstanding encounters he had with brilliant minds from all over the world. Notably, India where he gained alot of insight in industrial computer networks. He ignited the CISCO, to implement its school in Lesotho through the Lerotholi Polytechnic. He had countless sessions with the Lesotho Government Security Departments to hone their IT Skills - the Lesotho Mounted Police SERVICE (LMPS), Lesotho Defense Force (LDF)  and National Security Services (NSS) personnel through the CISCO certification. 

💼 Industrial & Entrepreneurial Vision

Mr. Lephoto Nabi was more than an educator — he was an entrepreneur with a vision to create opportunities for the next generation.

He spearheaded the Maluti Bloc Tec company, a bold initiative that he invited me and my fellow first-degree cohort members — Shelile Malefetsane, Khang Tsepang, and Moiloa Seeiso — to join. He also invited other bright minds from the Lerotholi Polytechnic and other local institutions to contribute and be part of a prominent business model. 

Sadly, he passed away during the company’s registration process. Yet, his entrepreneurial spirit continues to inspire us. The very fact that he brought us together around such a project proved his commitment to building a thriving tech ecosystem in Lesotho. May this initiative live up to fruition as he deemed initially. 

🌐 Opening Doors to the World

One of Mr. Nabi’s greatest gifts was his global vision and powerful networks.

Through his connections — spanning America, Europe, and Asia — he introduced us to opportunities we could never have imagined:

  • He and his sister, Dr. Catherine Lephoto, helped me and two other students secure fully funded American scholarships to study at HVACR.EDU.
  • We gained access to cutting-edge devices like the Phenix X Blockchain Smartphone, which broadened our technological exposure.
  • Their support indirectly enabled me to win the biggest Ethereum Hackathon in Africa, in a category funded by BitMobile Tech, a partner of HVACR.EDU and Phenix X.

These were not mere opportunities; they were life-changing experiences that set me and many others on paths of growth, visibility, and innovation.

👥 A Bond Beyond Academics

What stood out most was his humanity.

  • He was a truth-seeker, constantly striving for self-improvement.
  • Our conversations were never transactional; they were full of ethics, encouragement, and vision.
  • His selfless demeanor radiated positivity and comprehension of all circumstances, thus he was a popular figure amongst the diligent, charismatic and competent fellows. 
  • I greatly admired the cohesion he shared with his sister, Dr. Catherine Lephoto — a sibling bond that became a source of opportunities for many of us.
  • He supported community projects around Roma, Maphotong. For instance, the support of Roma Boys DC, local football club in Roma. Additionally, he set up a computer lab at Christ The King High School for Computer Education program for locals. 
  • He had a vision for a society that's progressive and convenient to grow up and be part of. For instance, he spearheaded a Data Management System for Roma Villages to hold all records of villagers and students renting around as to fight against crime plaguing Roma. May this also come to fruition. 
  • He had a good eye for a better socioeconomic and political adherence of democracy, as he believed that the people are the backbone of the country, therefore listening and acting to their grievances was a just act. 
  • He stood for elections in the 2022 National IEC Elections as a representative of the BAP Party. His main goal being the inclusiveness of Basotho in educational programs of various aspects exceeding technology. 

He was approachable, kind, and always ready to share wisdom. To me, he was a mentor, role model, and friend.

🕯️ A Martyr for Innovation in Lesotho

Though his journey was cut short, his impact is eternal.

  • He pioneered Cisco Networking education in Lesotho.
  • He mentored and empowered countless students.
  • He dreamed of a globally connected Lesotho, and laid the foundations for it.

In truth, Mr. Nabi was a martyr for innovation — someone who gave his all to push Lesotho’s tech frontier forward, often sacrificing for the benefit of others.

🌟 Closing Reflections

Because of Mr. Lephoto Nabi, I discovered the world beyond our borders.
Because of him, I learned that technology must always serve humanity and ethics.
Because of him, I dared to dream bigger.

His legacy lives in every one of us he mentored, in the networks he built, and in the opportunities he created.

To me, to my fellow students, and to the entire tech community in Lesotho:
Mr. Lephoto Nabi is, and will forever be, a legend.

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